Safety ski binder



Sept. 19, 1961 J. J. A. BEYL SAFETY x1 BINDER 2 She ets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1960' .4llllr InVeh-I-OF AHo r-neys Jean IA Ball by M J'M Sept. 19, 1961 J. J. A. BEYL 3,000,644

SAFETY SKI BINDER Filed March 31, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' .9 m A F/5f4 a 1 IrNen-for Jean IAQBcA I y 4+i'ornays 3,000,644 SAFETY SKI BINDER Jean Joseph Alfred Beyl, Rue des Champs Ferrant, Nevers, France Filed Mar. 31, 1960, Ser. No. 19,070 Claims. (Cl. 280-1135) This invention relates to safety ski binders and has specific reference to a safety binder designed for the front end of the ski boot, the rear portion of the boot being retained against forward movement by any suitable means, for example elastic means.

More particularly, this invention is concerned with a safety binder consisting of an abutment member rotatably mounted on the ski and held in its normal position by a mechanical system providing a resilient or detent-positioning action, which is adapted to release said rotary abutment member under the influence of an abnormally high torsional stress.

The rotary abutment member is generally provided on its rear end with a pivotally-mounted flange, bead or plate formed with a projecting edge and adapted to receive the front end of the boot. Thus, the projecting edge of the boot sole is engaged under the flange of this pivoted abutment member or plate, and therefore the boot tip is prevented from being released by an upward movement. However, the boot sole is thus held in contact with the ski surface so that during the release of the device under the influence of a torsional stress applied to the boot the movement accomplished by this boot is retarded by the frictional contact produced between the sole and the ski, so that the safety device is somewhat prevented from operating normally.

Under these circumstances the applicant has provided a safety ski binder of the type broadly defined hereinabove but adapted, in case of abnormal torsional stress and of the consequent release of the device, to relieve the boot sole from the pressure urging same against the ski surface. It is another object of this invention to simplify the structure of a ski binder of this character and to reduce as much as possible its overall dimensions.

To this end the present invention provides a device for securing on a ski the front end of a ski boot the rear portion of which is urged forward through any suitable means. This device consists of an abutment member having means for holding the front end of the boot and being pivotally mounted on a base plate secured on the ski by means of a fixed pivot pin extending at right angles to the ski surface. The abutment member carries on its lower face one or more projections disposed at spaced intervals about the axis of rotation which projections, in the normal position of the abutment member, partially engage corresponding recesses formed in the base plate secured on the ski. A spring urges the abutment body against the aforesaid base plate so as to resiliently lock same in its normal position due to the engagement of said projections in said base plate recesses.

Thus, the release of thi abutment member against the resistance of the pressure spring is attended by an upward movement of the abutment member with respect to the fixed base plate. The projections, which consist for example of balls, are released from their corresponding recesses in the base plate so as to move on the surface of this plate.

A typical embodiment of a safety ski binder constructed according to the teachings of this invention is described hereafter by Way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification. In the drawings:

,FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical axial section, of this ski binder;

. States Patet ice FIGURE 2 is another diagrammatic View, Partly in plan, partly in horizontal section, of the same device;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic plan view from above showing on a smaller scale the respective positions of the component elements of the device and of a boot fitted thereon, during the operation of the device; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the device during the release of the abutment member, this view corresponding to a section taken upon the line IVIV of FIG. 3.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 comprises an abutment body 1 rotatably mounted on a base plate 2 secured on the ski S in the position contemplated for the front edge B of the ski boot C to be secured on the ski. This abutment body is formed with a bore 3 extending at right angles to the ski and having engaged therein a fixed pin 4 carried by the base plate 2 and adapted to act as a pivot for the rotary abutment body.

The bore 3 comprises two portions having different diameters, the diameter of the lower portion corresponding substantially to that of the pivot 4. On the other hand, the diameter of the upper or major portion of this bore is definitely greater and constitutes a housing 3a for a coil spring 7 surrounding the pivot 4 and bearing on the constriction formed by the lower portion of the bore 3. A tapped plug 9 is screwed on the upper end of the pivot pin 4, a washer 8 being interposed between this plug and the coil spring. This washer 8 carries an integral lug 8a engaging a longitudinal groove or slot 4a formed in the pivot 4 to prevent the washer from rotating.

The abutment body carries three balls 5 housed in cavities formed on its lower face and regularly spaced about the axis of the pivot pin 4. In the normal position of the device these balls partially engage recesses 6 formed in the upper face of the base plate 2 below the cavities formed in the abutment body. The abutment body is resiliently locked in this position by the pressure exerted by the coil spring 7 which, by bearing against the washer 8 and plug 9, urges the body against the base plate 2 so as to maintain the balls 5 engaged in the recesses 6 of this base plate 2. This resilient locking action or detent-positioning action may be adjusted at will by screwing in or out the tapped plug 9.

The rear end 1b of the abutment body is of U-shaped configuration and the lugs constituting this U-shape extend horizontally one above the other. Disposed between these lugs is a pivot pin 10 having rotatably mounted thereon a crescent-shaped flanged piece 11 adapted to receive the front edge B of the ski boot. This flanged piece is formed with an upper horizontal flange proper 11a adapted to engage the front edge B of the boot. If desired, to permit the vertical adjustment of the position of this flanged piece 11 (so that difierent sole thicknesses may be used with the device) the bore of this flanged piece may be tapped, the pin 10 being threaded and rotating freely in the lugs of the abutment body. Thus, by rotating this pin, the user may actually adjust the vertical position of the flange 11a.

Preferably, the flanged piece 11 is held in its normal position shown in FIGS 1 and 2 by a small spring-loaded piston 12 responsive to a compression spring 13 and housed in a cavity formed at the rear of the abutment body, the pressure of this piston being applied to a cavity 14 formed in the front face of the pivoted flanged piece.

The front abutment device of this invention may be used in combination with any suitable means for securing or retaining the rear end of the ski boot so as to urge same against the front abutment member. However and preferably, the device of this invention will be used in combination with rear securing means mounted themselves on a pivoting plate 15 supporting the heel of the boot and rotatably mounted on the ski about a vertical,

theoretical axis These fixation means may consist for example of a pair of coil springs 16 extending laterally and interconnected by a bow-like member 17 carrying an eccentric pivoting lever 18, for tensioning these fixation means. Thus, the boot may pivot about the centre 0 lying under the heel.

As already indicated, the abutment member is normally held in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the balls being maintained in the recesses 6 of the fixed base plate 2 by the pressure of spring 7. To fit the boot C in position, the user just engages the front edge B of the boot under the flange 11a of the flanged piece 11. The front edge of the boot is thus safely retained in the forward direction and also vertically, as the flange 11a holds the boot in contact with the ski surface. When the rear fixation means are tensioned, the boot is safely held against movement on the ski.

However, if the users foot is subjected to an accidental torsional effort of abnormal value, this effort will cause the abutment member to rotate and the balls 5 to move out from their recesses 6 in the fixed plate 2 against the resistance of the compression spring 7. Now this spring is thus compressed and as the balls 5 are driven out from the recesses 6 and caused to move on the top surface of the base plate 2, the body 1 will rise with respect to this plate (see FIG. 4). Thus, the sole-retaining flange 11a of the flanged piece 11 will be somewhat spaced from the upper edge of the boot sole, and the boot may accomplish freely its movement of rotation about the axis 0 and be released completely from the device without being retarded by its frictional engagement with the ski surface which might interfere with the proper operation of the device. This is a particularly important advantage of the device of this invention with respect to similar known devices wherein the boot remains pressed against the top surface of the ski by the pressure exerted by the abutment device against the front edge of the sole.

It will be noted that the structure of the device proposed herein is particularly simple and that the over-all dimensions of the device are extremely reduced due to the spaced arrangement of the detent positioning balls about the pivot pin of the abutment member. The operation of this device is particularly reliable. The use of this device is not attended by any difliculty, for after a release it is sufficient to pivot the abutment body manually for restoring it to its initial position, the pivoted flanged piece 11 resuming automatically its normall posi tion due to the pressure exerted by the piston 12.

The fact that the distance between the axis of the pivot pin 10 of the flanged piece 11 and the axis of the pivot pin 4 of the device is greater than the distance between this pivot pin and each ball 5 of the detent-posrtroning device constitutes an advantageous factor for the proper operation of the device. In fact, contrary to similar known devices operating only in case of sudden torsional movements but not in case of slow but dangerous torsional movements, the device of this invention operates even in this last-mentioned case due to the magnitude of the lever arm through which the effort is transmitted. The specific distribution of the detent-positioning balls is also adequate to prevent the device of this invention from producing an inopportune release in case of simple lateral shocks.

Finally, it may also be noted that in case of dangerous efforts exerted in the direction to cause an upward movement of the front end of the ski boot, the body 1 resiliently held by the spring 7 can rise against the resistance of this spring so as to remove the balls 5 from their recesses 6 in the fixed plate 2. Thus, the body 1 is released or unlocked and in case of any torsional effort following this upward movement this body 1 will pivot freely and release the foot completely. Thus, each accidents as may be caused by efforts tending to lift the front end of the boot, for example in case of rearward fall,

are definitely avoided, whilst similar known devices are unsuitable for releasing the foot under the same circumstances.

Of course, the device of this invention should not be construed as being limited to the single example shown and described herein. Thus, other suitable members may be substituted for the balls 5 and carried by the body 1 so as to partially engage recesses 6 or like cavities. These projecting members may also consist of rounded bosses formed on the lower face of the body 1.

Besides, anybody conversant with the art will readily understand that many modifications as to the size, relative dimensions and materials may be brought to the practical embodiment of the invention without departing from the basic principles thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. A device for securing on a ski the front end of a ski boot the rear portion of which is urged forward by any suitable means, said device comprising an underlying base plate secured on the ski, at least one recess formed in the top surface of said base plate, a pivot pin extending upward from and at right angles to the top surface of said base plate, an abutment member rotatably mounted about said pivot pin and provided with means for retaining the front end of the sole of the boot and for engaging the upper face of said front end of said sole, at least one projecting member disposed on the lower face of said abutment member and adapted to partially engage said recess of said base plate when said abutment member is in its normal position, a spring urging said abutment member against said base plate, whereby said abutment member is locked in its normal position due to the engagement of said projection member in said recess of said plate, the unlocking of said abutment member against the resistance of said spring being attended by an upward movement of said abutment member in relation to said fixed base plate.

2. A device for securing on a ski the front end of a ski boot the rear portion of which is urged forward by any suitable means, said device comprising an underlying base plate secured on the ski, a pivot pin extending upward from and at right angles to the top surface of said base plate, at least one recess formed in the top surface of said plate, an abutment member rotatably mounted about said pivot pin and provided with means for retaining the front end of the sole of the boot and for engaging the upper face of said front end of said sole, at least one recess formed in the lower face of said abutment member, a ball partially engaged in said recess of said abut-ment member and adapted to partially engage also the recess of said base plate when said abutment member is in its normal position, a spring urging said abutment member against said base plate, whereby said abutment member is locked in its normal position due to the engagement of said ball in said recess of said base plate, the unlocking of said abutment member against the resistance of said spring being attended by an upward movement of said abutment member in relation to said fixed base plate.

3. A device for securing on a ski the front end of a ski boot the rear portion of which is urged forward by any suitable means, said device comprising an underlying base plate secured on the ski, a pivot pin extending at right angles to the top surface of said base plate, at least one recess formed in the top surface of said plate, an abutment member rotatably mounted about said pivot pin and provided with means for retaining the front end of the sole of the boot and for engaging the upper face of said front end of said sole, a boreformed in said abutment member and containing said pivot pin, said bore having a constriction near the lower face of said abutment member, at least one recess formed in the lower face of said abutment member, a ball partially engaged in said recess of said abutment member and adapted to partially engage also the recess of said base plate when said abutment member is in its normal posi tion, a coil spring disposed in said bore about said pivot pin and bearing against said constriction of said bore, a tapped plug screwed on said pivot pin against said coil spring, whereby said spring urges said abutment member against said base plate and said abutment member is locked in its normal position due to the engagement of said ball in said recess of said base plate, the unlocking of said abutment member against the resistance of said spring being attended by an upward movement of said abutment member in relation to said fixed base plate.

4. A device for securing on a ski the front end of a ski boot the rear portion of which is urged forward by any suitable means, said device comprising an underlying base plate secured on the ski, a pivot pin extending at right angles to the top surface of said base plate, at least two recesses formed in the top surface of said plate, at spaced intervals about said pivot pin, an abutment member rotatably mounted about said pivot pin and adapted to slide along said pivot pin for movement with respect to said base plate, said abutment member being provided with means for retaining the front end of the sole of the boot and for engaging the upper face of said front end of said sole, a bore formed in said abutment member and containing said pivot pin, said bore having a constriction near the lower face of said abutment member, at least two projecting members disposed on the lower face of said abutment member and adapted to engage said recesses of said base plate when said abutment member is in its normal position, a coil spring disposed in said bore about said pivot pin and bearing against said constriction of said bore, a tapped plug screwed on said pivot pin against said coil spring, whereby said spring urges said abutment member against said base plate and said abutment member is locked in its normal position due to the engagement of said projecting members in said recesses of said base plate, the unlocking of said abutment member against the resistance of said spring being attended by an upward movement of said abutment member in relation to said fixed base plate.

5. A device for securing on a ski the front end of a ski boot the rear portion of which is urged forward by any suitable means, said device comprising an underlying base plate secured on the ski, a pivot pin extending upwardly and at right angles to the top surface of said base plate, at least one recess formed in the top surface of said plate, an abutment member rotatably mounted about said pivot pin and provided with means for retaining the front end of the sole of the boot and for engaging the upper face of said front end of said sole, a bore formed in said abutment member and containing said pivot pin, said bore having a constriction near the lower face of said abutment member, at least one projecting member disposed on the lower face of said abutment member and adapted to engage said recess of said base plate when said abutment member is in its normal position, a coil spring disposed in said bore about said pivot pin and bearing against said constriction of said bore, a tapped plug screwed on said pivot pin against said coil spring, whereby said spring urges said abutment member against said base plate and said abutment member is locked in its normal position due to the engagement of said projecting members in said recesses of said base plate, the unlocking of said abutment member against the resistance of said spring being attended by an upward movement of said abutment member in relation to said fixed base plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,383,064 Lanz Aug. 21, 1945 2,534,038 Lanz Dec. 12, 1950 2,836,428 Marker May 27, 1958 2,867,446 Rehacek Jan. 6, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,137,121 France Jan. 7, 1957 

